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Innovative Projects, Lasting Impact: Celebrating CCEF’s 2024-2025 Impact Grant Recipients
At the Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF), we are committed to empowering educators to create impactful learning experiences for their students. Thanks to the generous support of our community, schools across the county have been able to fund a variety of projects this year, from hands-on STEM labs to enhancing reading options for students.
We are proud to announce that 18 teachers from the Cherokee County School District have received Classroom Grants for the 2024-2025 school year. More than $32,000 in impact grants were awarded after a competitive process, with more awarded in smaller amounts as Rapid Grants throughout the year. Let's take a closer look at some of the fun projects our grant recipients are implementing.
Lori L. Sewell – Indian Knoll Elementary School: Reading Horizons Leveled Classroom Library
Grant Amount: $900.84
K-5 Resource ELA Students
Ty Casteel – Etowah High School: Digital Education in Construction
Grant Amount: $2,500
9-12 Grade Construction Students
Ty Casteel is transforming Etowah High School's construction program by incorporating digital technology. With his grant, he has purchased a Sony camera and accessories to create video-based lessons on critical construction skills, safety protocols, and tool use. These videos will be available online, ensuring that students can continue learning even if they miss class. The project also introduces students to emerging technologies in the construction industry, such as robotics and 3D printing.
Rebekah Hunt – Macedonia Elementary School: STEM Lab Robotics
Grant Amount: $2,500
3rd-5th Grade Students
Rebekah Hunt is bringing hands-on robotics to Macedonia Elementary's STEM curriculum. With her grant, she has introduced VEX Go Robotics, giving 3rd-5th grade students the chance to learn coding, engineering concepts, and teamwork. Students are now solving real-world challenges through robotics, preparing them for future competitions and higher-level STEM programs. The project fosters collaboration and creativity while building technical skills in a fun, engaging way.
Other Notable Projects
- Shelley Anderson (Creekland Middle School): Shelley has enhanced her 8th-grade physical science curriculum with hands-on science equipment, enriching Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) labs and giving students the tools to explore scientific concepts through real-world experiments.
- Savannah Holcomb (River Ridge High School): Savannah has introduced BreakOut Edu kits to the media center, providing students with an interactive way to review U.S. history. Through solving puzzles and unlocking clues, students work collaboratively to deepen their historical knowledge.
- Lindsie Champion (Creekland Middle School): Lindsie created a Shared Learning Experience Garden for her special education students, supporting their speech and language development while integrating curriculum-based knowledge in a hands-on, outdoor setting.
Lasting Impact!
These projects are just a glimpse of the incredible work happening across Cherokee County thanks to our Rapid & Impact Grants. At CCEF, we are committed to continuing our support for these initiatives. With the ongoing generosity of our community, we can equip our classrooms with the tools and resources needed to help students reach their full potential. Thank you to our teachers, partners, and donors who make these projects possible. Together, we are creating lasting impacts on the future of education in Cherokee County.
For more information on how you can support CCEF, visit our Support page.
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